She Dreamed of Africa – Friday Fictioneers

Good Wednesday afternoon, my readers… First Friday Fictioneers of the year! I know, I know, it’s called Friday FICTIONeers but my sister and niece leave in one hour and, no, I know this is not a picture of a desert, nor a vast plain but hey… it’s what I’m seeing now and it’s not what we look at, but what we see, right? Says so right down there ⇓

Thanks to the comedic duo Rochelle and Russell for their collaboration this week. Do join in on the fun! Just click on the blue frog below to add your 100-word story to the party already going on. Not sure about the rules and regs? Click on Rochelle’s name and get them!

She Dreamed of Africa

Tracy had no idea what her daughter would choose for their mother-daughter trip. She should have known. Sabrina had the travel bug ever since she saved all monies earned from baby-sitting and selling her necklaces to pay for her high school Guatemala trip. Hers was a laser-beam focus when she had a goal. No Cuba-style-butt-in-the-sand vacation for her!

“Africa?”

“Yes, Mom. Tanzania. Glamping Safari in the Serengeti! Then Zanzibar for the beach. We’ll learn how to surf.”

Tis true. If I wanted it, every day could be a beach day. Funny, I usually go inland. Less howling winds, freezing cold, tainted with arctic ice. Tis nice, though, on thise occasioanl hot days. Ah, but then everyone has the same idea. No fun squeezy between the heaving bodies. Better to go inland, so recently vacated by all those folks seeking sand, sea and sun!

As you know I keep the name in deference to those who created and started the group. Anything goes as long as it’s 100 words or less. 😉 And what the photo inspires is Kosher. Love this story and the photos of the ladies. Your niece sounds like a very focused young lady. Impressive. I hope they have a lovely and safe journey. Tell them if they take any photos they think might make good prompts…:D Well done

Absolutely. And so you should! Besides, too late to change now 😉 I know it. You are most accepting of my non-fiction fiction 😉 Don’t they look wonderful? She is amazing (though not my goddaughter, she coulda been). They will have an amazing time and I cannot wait to see their pictures (who knows? Maybe I shall “liberate” one for you…)

It should be an amazing trip. I spent three weeks in Tanzania back in 2007. They will learn that for the most part, the people are very poor, but have more joy in their hearts than the majority of people I know in the States. The memories are coming back to me. Thanks for the positive trigger. I took over ten thousand photos while there. Time to dig some out.

They actually lost me at “surfing.” It seems like a wonderful sport, except that you have to do it in the full sun, and my ancestors didn’t give me the right DNA for that. Nope, only shade and grey days for this painfully pale girl.

When I was in Hawaii a couple months ago, I did enjoy *watching* surfing. From under an umbrella, where I could enjoy the sea breezes and view, while handsome cabana men brought me fruity cocktails with pineapple sticks in them. 🙂

Oh, wow, what an adventure! I’d never have the courage to do it, too cautious, too much of a shrinking violet. Saying that, I have been to Africa but it was Egypt, a package holiday to accompany my mum who adores the history. Pretty amazing going inside one of the pyramids at Giza, but I can’t imagine swimming with sharks. So cool. I hope they have an amazing time

I don’t blame your sister – I wouldn’t be keen either. Egypt was amazing. I haven’t travelled much – hardly at all – and we went just a few weeks after 9/11 which meant it was comparatively quiet as people weren’t flying much, especially to an Arabic country. But the people there were amazing and as you can imagine, the temples, the Nile, the Valley of the Kings were astonishing.

It was a once in a lifetime trip for my mum who was unlikely to have gone any other time. It was nerve wracking at times, I can’t deny, and there were a lot of armed police officers around, especially near the mausoleum of Hatshepsut where 70 people had been shot by terrorists a few years earlier. Sadly, there are few destinations in the Middle East where there isn’t a risk of such events. Saying all of that it was wonderful and I’ll always remember it

I’m very glad we did it then – Mum’s 73 now and though not an old 73, she’d struggle to do the walking we did on that trip. She’s been obsessed with Ancient Egypt pretty much all her life, so to be able to see those places with her was – not to sound too corny – rather a privilege. I would love to take my son there too, but I actually think it’s more dangerous since a regime change than it was post 9/11. As you say, lots of other places still to explore.

73 is still young but of course not all can prance about for hours and hours! And no. Not corny at all. My mother (77) dreams of Australia but that won’t happen and her eyesight isn’t where it used to be nor is her walking capacity. Otherwise, I’d have loved to have gone with her…

Did the sharks take the bait? Were lions, tigers, and bears waiting for them behind every overgrown bush? Did they join a tribal community and dance under the stars? Tun in next week for As the Dale Writes.

As someone cursed with wanderlust and an empty savings account that whole trip sounds amazing. I bet they are having the time of their lives, seeing things only a handful of people in the entire world have seen.

We’ll be going to Africa this summer! It truly will be a trip of a lifetime, especially since it only kicks off a year abroad. Africa has always been high on my list, so it’s exciting to see it finally coming to fruition!